All Republicans who are in town are encouraged to come to the House Floor."
"This is the people's House," Rep, Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.) said. "This is not Pelosi's politiburo."

"I love this," Shadegg told reporters up in the press gallery afterward. "Congress can be so boring...This is a kick."

Also, Republicans can thank Shadegg for turning on the microphones the first time. Apparently, the fiesty Arizona conservative started typing random codes into the chamber's public address system and accidentally typed the correct code, allowing Republicans brief access to the microphone before it was turned off again.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and the Democrats adjourned the House and turned off the lights and killed the microphones, but Republicans are still on the floor talking gas prices.

Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and other GOP leaders opposed the motion to adjourn the House, arguing that Pelosi's refusal to schedule a vote allowing offshore drilling is hurting the American economy. They have refused to leave the floor after the adjournment motion passed at 11:23 a.m. and are busy bashing Pelosi and her fellow Democrats for leaving town for the August recess.

At one point, the lights went off in the House and the microphones were turned off in the chamber, meaning Republicans were talking in the dark. But as Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz..) was speaking, the lights went back on, and the microphones were turned on shortly afterward.

But C-SPAN, which has no control over the cameras in the chamber, has stopped broadcasting the House floor, meaning no one is witnessing this except the assembled Republicans, their aides, and one Democrat, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), who has now left.

Only about a half-dozen Republicans were on the floor when this began, but the crowd has grown to about 20 now, according to Patrick O'Connor.

Democratic aides were furious at the GOP stunt, and reporters were kicked out of the Speaker's Lobby, the space next to the House floor where they normally interview lawmakers.

"You're not covering this, are you?" complaining one senior Democratic aide. Another called the Republicans "morons" for staying on the floor.

Update - The Capitol Police are now trying to kick reporters out of the press gallery above the floor, meaning we can't watch the Republicans anymore. But Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) is now in the gallery talking to reporters, so the cops have held off for a minute. Clearly, Democrats don't want Republicans getting any press for this episode. GOP leaders are trying to find other Republicans to rotate in for Blunt so reporters aren't kicked out.

Update 2 - This message was sent out by Blunt's office:

"Although, this Democrat Majority just Adjourned for the Democrat 5-Week Vacation, House Republicans are continuing to fight on the House Floor. Although the lights, mics and C-SPAN camera's have been turned off, House Republicans are on the Floor speaking to the tax payers in the gallery who, not surprisingly, agree with Republican Energy proposals.

All Republicans who are in town are encouraged to come to the House Floor."

Update 4 - Republican leaders just sent out a notice looking for a bullhorn and leadership aides are trying to corral all the members who are still in town to come speak on the floor and sustain this one-sided debate.

You mean they're actually trying to grow a pair? It's about time they quit kiss assing with the Democrats.

08-01-2008, 04:40 PM

Scarlet

Go

If your Rep. is a republican, or not, call them and tell them to stay and fight. Call Nancy P. @ 1-415-556-4862. This is her S.F. office. The D.C. # is 1-202-225-4965. The D.C.# is always busy. They are rude in S.F. and put you straight to voice mail when you tell them you would like to give her your opinion.
________The yazidi branch of yazdanism dicussion

08-01-2008, 04:51 PM

megimoo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rebel Yell

You mean they're actually trying to grow a pair? It's about time they quit kiss assing with the Democrats.

All President Bush Needs to do is to call the house back into session to piss old Fancy Nancy off bigtime !

08-01-2008, 05:09 PM

Rebel Yell

Quote:

Originally Posted by megimoo

All President Bush Needs to do is to call the house back into session to piss old Fancy Nancy off bigtime !

If the Republicans play their cards right, which they won't, this could turn into a virtual coup in our government. I can always dream, can't I.

08-01-2008, 05:55 PM

megimoo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rebel Yell

If the Republicans play their cards right, which they won't, this could turn into a virtual coup in our government. I can always dream, can't I.

The Republicans were in charge of the government for six years and they did nothing.

If a real energy bill came up for a serious vote you could bet your last dollar that every Republican and Democrat would put their stupid earmarks in it. There would be so much compromise and pork in it that the bill would be worthless.

08-01-2008, 10:35 PM

lacarnut

Quote:

Originally Posted by gator

It is all grandstanding.

The Republicans were in charge of the government for six years and they did nothing.

If a real energy bill came up for a serious vote you could bet your last dollar that every Republican and Democrat would put their stupid earmarks in it. There would be so much compromise and pork in it that the bill would be worthless.

If Obama gets elected with a 60 plus majority in the Senate, that's all the Repubs will be able to do is sit in the grandstands and observe because they will not be able to stop any legislation. We just might want to go ahead and anoint Obama King. So the way I look at it is that anything the Repubs can do to stop this from happening is good strategy. Playing politics has never stopped either side from doing it.

08-01-2008, 11:11 PM

NonConformist

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rebel Yell

If the Republicans play their cards right, which they won't, this could turn into a virtual coup in our government. I can always dream, can't I.

Thats what Id like to see

Quote:

Originally Posted by gator

It is all grandstanding.

The Republicans were in charge of the government for six years and they did nothing.

If a real energy bill came up for a serious vote you could bet your last dollar that every Republican and Democrat would put their stupid earmarks in it. There would be so much compromise and pork in it that the bill would be worthless.

But this is closer to the truth

The GOP had majority for 14 years altogether, 6 of which were under a Republican POTUS, yet they did nothing

08-02-2008, 08:54 AM

Constitutionally Speaking

Quote:

Originally Posted by NonConformist

Thats what Id like to see

But this is closer to the truth

The GOP had majority for 14 years altogether, 6 of which were under a Republican POTUS, yet they did nothing

Not to give them too much slack, but we did NOT have an effective majority. Olympia Snow, Lincoln Chaffee and Susan Collins almost ALWAYS voted with the Democrats on these critical issues.

This is why we must work MUCH harder in the Primaries to make sure we support the real conservatives, otherwise the "majority" is simply an illusion. Not coming out in the primaries gets us people like Snow, Chaffee, Collins and McCain.